Design Brief & Intent
The primary mission of the Comet 800 was to maximize interior volume without sacrificing the sailing characteristics necessary for the light-to-moderate winds of the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian seas. To achieve this, Jean-Marie Finot made a radical engineering choice that departed from traditional naval architecture. He designed the Comet 800 with a "self-supporting" (autoportante) hull structure. By omitting the traditional thick floor grid (longheroni and madieri) and separate wooden floorboards, which typically raised a cabin sole by roughly 14 centimeters, Finot allowed owners to walk directly on the finished, rounded interior hull laminate. This structural choice raised the standing headroom in the cabin to an impressive 1.85 meters (over six feet)—a configuration virtually unheard of in a 25-footer during the late 1970s.
The compromise of this layout is that the cabin sole is rounded rather than flat. The interior layout was highly progressive for the era, utilizing a modular approach to save space. It featured a slide-away galley stove that tucked under the companionway bridge deck when not in use, a retractable chart table that swung up out of the way, and accommodations for up to five people across a forward V-berth, a convertible salon dinette, and a quarter berth. Rather than using heavy, dark teak joinery, Comar utilized an easy-to-clean fiberglass inner liner with warm wood veneers on the bulkheads, making the cabin feel light, airy, and functional.
Variations & Configurations
The Comet 800 was offered in two primary deck and transom configurations. The most common was the standard transom version, which featured a traditional vertical stern post. The alternative variant, often marketed as the Comet 800 Plus or spoiler version, featured an integrated transom extension and swim platform. This spoiler was strategically designed to navigate Italian maritime regulations of the period, allowing the boat to slide under specific gross register tonnage thresholds to qualify as a non-registered "natante" (which did not require formal registration or licensing for coastal waters).
Draft options were also tailored to the boat's cruising grounds. The standard deep fin keel drew 1.45 to 1.55 meters (4.76 to 5.06 feet), providing excellent pointing ability and lift. For owners sailing in shallow bays or inland European lakes, Comar offered a shoal-draft short keel version drawing approximately 1.25 meters (4.10 feet). Both underwater profiles were paired with a high-aspect spade rudder. The rig was kept simple and manageable: a masthead sloop configuration with an aluminum mast standing 10.15 meters high, allowing the sail area to be carried lower to reduce heeling forces.
Sailing Performance & Handling
The Comet 800 is a light and lively performer under sail, designed specifically to capitalize on light thermal breezes. With a light displacement of 4,409 pounds (2,000 kilograms) and a waterline length of 21.65 feet, its displacement-to-length ratio of 193.96 places it on the lighter side of the medium-displacement cruising spectrum. Combined with a generous sail area-to-displacement ratio of 21.72, the boat is remarkably responsive and quick to accelerate out of tacks.
At the helm, the Comet 800 feels like a dinghy; the spade rudder provides immediate, positive feedback, though it requires an active hand to keep on track when sailing off the wind. Groupe Finot's signature teardrop hull profile carries a wide beam well aft, providing high initial form stability. The boat stands up well to its canvas in moderate winds, but because of its light weight and a relatively low comfort ratio of 16.77, the motion in a steep head chop can be rapid and bouncy. With a capsize screening ratio of 2.12, it is a well-balanced coastal cruiser and club racer that prioritizes flat-water speed and agility rather than heavy-weather ocean passaging.
Known Issues & Triage
The most critical technical reality of the Comet 800 stems directly from its revolutionary "bilgeless" design. Because owners walk directly on the interior hull pan, there is no bilge cavity to collect water. Any water ingress—whether from a dripping propeller shaft packing gland, a leaking rudder post, or a poorly sealed companionway hatch—will immediately puddle on the cabin floor where crew members walk. Consequently, keeping the boat dry requires absolute diligence. Owners must routinely inspect the shaft seal. Converting the original traditional stuffing box to a modern, dripless mechanical seal is highly recommended to prevent standing water in the cabin.
Additionally, because the fin keel is bolted directly through a hull that lacks a heavy grid of internal floor frames, the keel sump area is subjected to high working loads. While Comar laid up the solid fiberglass exceptionally thick in this region to compensate, older hulls must be carefully inspected for hairline gelcoat cracks or spider fracturing around the stainless steel keel backing plates. Another common point of wear is the spade rudder shaft; the upper and lower rudder bushings tend to develop play over decades of use, requiring machining or replacement to restore precise steering. Finally, the original folding propellers (often called Faltpropeller by European owners) are prone to binding, sometimes failing to open when reverse gear is engaged.
Modernization & Upgrades
Most Comet 800s found on the used market require some mechanical and system upgrades to meet modern cruising expectations. The original powerplants—typically single-cylinder diesel engines like the Farymann (ranging from 6 to 12 horsepower) or early Yanmar and Bukh models—are now at the end of their reliable service lives, and sourcing replacement parts is notoriously difficult. A standard upgrade for veteran owners is repowering with a modern 10 to 14 horsepower diesel, such as the Yanmar 1GM10 or Nanni Diesel, which fit into the compact engine compartment without requiring major structural modifications.
To support cruising comfort, contemporary owners frequently modernize the vessel's electrical and plumbing systems. Because the original fresh water capacity (16 gallons / 61 liters) and diesel fuel capacity (roughly 7 to 10 gallons) are quite small, upgrading to larger flexible water bladders and adding modern monitoring systems is common. Converting the house battery system to lightweight lithium (LiFePO4) chemistry allows owners to run a 12V marine refrigerator and modern navigation instruments without the weight penalty of heavy lead-acid batteries. Installing flexible solar panels on the companionway slide or atop a small bimini has also become a standard method for maintaining energy self-sufficiency while at anchor.
The Verdict
The Comar Comet 800 is an innovative, fast, and remarkably spacious pocket cruiser that offers excellent value for sailors operating on a modest budget. While its unique lack of a bilge requires meticulous maintenance, the payoff is a 25-foot sailboat with the standing headroom and interior volume of a much larger vessel, coupled with the responsive, light-air performance that Groupe Finot is famous for.
Pros
- Exceptional cabin headroom of 1.85 meters (6.06 feet) is rare for a boat under 26 feet.
- Lively and highly responsive sailing characteristics, particularly in light-to-moderate wind conditions.
- High initial stability and a spacious cockpit make for comfortable coastal daytime cruising.
- Clever space-saving interior features like the sliding stove and retractable chart table.
- The optional transom spoiler version provides excellent water access and complies with registration-free regulations in several European regions.
Cons
- The lack of a bilge means any water leak immediately puddles directly onto the cabin floor sole.
- The lightweight construction and high capsize screening ratio make the boat lively and less comfortable in a rough, heavy sea.
- Original Farymann engines are obsolete and difficult to service, often requiring costly repowering.
- Spade rudder bushings are prone to developing play and require periodic rebuilding.
- Limited original fuel and water capacities restrict the boat to short-range coastal cruising.
